Addition of ex-Pat Gary Guyton adds to depth of linebacking corps

The Dolphins continued their offseason pattern of signing unspectacular free agents Tuesday when they officially announced linebacker Gary Guyton had come to terms on a one-year deal.

While Guyton started 32 games over the past four seasons with New England, he largely faded from prominence in the Patriots’ defensive scheme this past season and was not expected to be retained.

A 6-foot-3, 245-pound native of Hinesville, Ga., Guyton was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Tech in 2008. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.47) of any linebacker in the NFL Scouting Combine that year.

After starting two games and playing mostly on special teams as a rookie, Guyton, 26, made a splash when he started all 16 games in 2009, partly due to the retirement of Tedy Bruschi and partly due to an injury that sidelined Jerod Mayo. He finished with a career-high 85 tackles that season.

Guyton started eight games in 2010 and just six last season, playing more of a backup role while totaling 63 tackles in 2010 and 47 in 2011. While his speed continues to be regarded as his biggest asset, the Patriots took him off the field in a number of passing situations last season and diminished his role as the season wound down.

Guyton signed a two-year, $2.1 million extension prior to the start of the 2010 season.

Guyton said on a conference call that after meeting with the Dolphins’ coaches it “just felt good” to come to South Florida.

Asked his impressions of the Dolphins after facing them the past few years, he replied, “Good ballclub, very competitive, they play very hard ball. It was never an easy win. They’ve got a lot of guys who wanted to come out and compete.”

Guyton could be a challenger to Koa Misi for the strong-side job in a 4-3 scheme or could back up Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett at an inside spot when Miami runs the 3-4.

Mayo told the Boston Herald Tuesday he was sorry to see Guyton depart after the two had become close the past few years.

“He’s been beside me for a long time now,” Mayo said. “You see us in the locker room always chopping it up. He’s a good player. He’s moved on to another team. I hope he wins every game except for the one against us.” Of course, the Dolphins and Patriots play twice a year, not once.